BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – SPD leader Lars Klingbeil wants to encourage his party not to bury its head in the sand in the face of an international order and economic problems. “It’s no use crying for a world that no longer exists. The old world isn’t coming back. Nostalgia doesn’t help either,” he said in a keynote speech in Berlin. The liberal age is “ending right before our eyes.” Strength, power and economic interests dominate in international politics, and old rules and norms are undermined.
“A world that is ruled by power, strength and violence. We Social Democrats will never accept this world, this future,” emphasized Klingbeil. Social democratic politics must remain a politics of peace, responsibility and solidarity.
For Germany, this also means combating inequality of wealth and opportunities. It’s not about envy, but about fair performance. Constantly talking about benefit cuts and privatization leads to excessive demands, stress and fear for many people./tam/DP/mis
